Why choose to grow cotton in Southern NSW?
Deniliquin growers are welcome to come along to our free Cotton Growing Forum on the 3rd of September to hear about the advantages of producing cotton as part of their farming system.
The cotton industry in Southern New South Wales, across the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys, accounts for 20% of the Australian cotton crop.
The Murray Valley represents a newer area for cotton production, but has doubled in planted hectares from 4,400 in 2017 to 9,000 hectares in 2024.
Historically, the Southern Riverina irrigation industry has been dominated by rice production, winter cropping (cereals and canola) and dairy, based on an irrigated pasture system. Factors, including the deregulation of the dairy industry and changes to water security and availability through enterprise changes have altered the dynamics of water use, as evidenced by the growth and changes to the broadacre cropping profile.
Cotton has been a beneficiary of this change, due to the better returns produced per megalitre of water used and a desire of growers to diversify their risk profile. Cotton, along with rice, maize and winter crops, including wheat, barley, canola and cereal/vetch hay production are now the dominant enterprises in the region.
What factors have driven the growth of cotton in the Southern Riverina?
As mentioned, changes to water availability have been the significant driver for the growth of cotton production in the area. Cotton provides flexibility when it comes to water use – with CSD’s varieties you get more return per hectare from each megalitre of water used.
Technology in cotton varieties also offers improvements in pest control not offered by alternate crops. Chewing insect control is delivered through the Bollgard® 3 traits, while the herbicide tolerance of CSD’s new varieties to Glyphosate, Dicamba and Glufosinate means those expanding into cotton production have access to better in-crop control of problem weeds, such as resistant ryegrass and fleabane.
How has the Cotton industry progressed ?
Looking back over the past few years in the Riverina, both the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys have seen the best and the worst of production, not just for cotton but all irrigated crops. The 2024-25 season has been amongst the best for cotton production and yield expectations are as good, if not better than previous seasons.
The region now has more capacity to support an increase in cotton production than ever before. More ginning, better access to pickers, cash flow options and the ability to forward sell cotton translates to a more efficient cotton growing experience.
What does the future hold for the Murray Valley ?
Cotton production in the Murray Valley will be driven by numerous factors that are the consequences of management (the things growers and advisors can control) and, more importantly, mother nature and the cards she deals us in any given season.
In the Southern Riverina, the overwhelming environmental factor driving production is the accumulated day-degrees (DD) from planting to defoliation. A great way to track these over any season is using the ‘Day Degree Calculator’, which is available on the CSD website. Good production years coincide with seasons when this accumulation reaches or exceeds 1000 DD, which the region has seen seven times in the last decade. The occassional poor years coincide with seasons where this accumulation fails to reach 1000 , as was the case in 2022-23 .
All in all, when the Southern Riverina is having a favourable season and DD reaches or exceeds 1000, it produces similar yields to locations in the Murrumbidgee Valley. (Steve Buster, Rivcott Cotton Field Survey, Multi-Season 2017-2024 Final Report, January 2025)
Decisions to plant are no different to any other summer crop, but cotton can bring its own unique rewards. If water is available and the season forecasts remain promising, then there may well be a fit for cotton in a field or two of yours. Whether you are considering cotton for the first time or thinking of trying a little bit more, this forum in Deniliquin is being put on for you, so why not come along?
What will growers get from this Forum ?
This forum will bring together a range of industry experts including growers, who will be sharing their experiences of cotton growing in the Southern Riverina. Their experience includes growing cotton under row cropping and sprinkler (laterals, pivots) systems, sharing what they have learnt and come to understand what they need to do really well, as well as things to avoid (mistakes that can be easily made).
Also present will be researchers covering soil health and cotton physiology, local ginners, merchants/exporters, industry support organisations (CottonInfo, Cotton Australia), CSD Extension and Development team services with the latest on cotton seed varieties and the likely future of new technology inclusions for insect and weed control.
The forum is open to all industry participants. This is a great opportunity for new and intending growers to learn more about the opportunities that cotton can bring to your business. If you have any questions, please get in touch with your local CSD agronomist, Michael Taylor on 0417 262 422.
